Lift Up Your Heads!

"But when these things being to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads,

because your redemption is drawing near." 

Luke 21:28

Jesus said when things begin to take place that indicate He is coming soon, to lift up your head because your redemption is drawing near. Jesus is physically returning to the earth and we are to prepare for that. We will physically lift up our heads to see Him. This indicates our spiritual condition and frame of mind as well. We will be lifting up our heads spiritually because we see Him and know Him, before we lift up our heads to see Him physically. 

The church is not to be in a position, when Jesus returns, where we are hanging our heads low, walking with a slouch in defeat or shame. No! We are to lift up our heads having the confidence that He is our redemption. We are not defeated in shame or cowering in fear, because the blood of Jesus Christ has purchased our salvation and redemption. Our trust is in Him, not in our own abilities to justify or defend ourselves.

Jesus said we are to be the light of the world. However we don't shine our lights in such a way that we are glorified, but so He is glorified. What we do is not for our own glory or for people to think highly of us. Our purpose is to glorify the Lord in everything. As long as we have learned to walk humbly with our God and our desire is to honor and glorify Him in all we do, then we can walk as Jesus did in the earth revealing the Scripture and the power of God. We walk in His love, which brings confidence in the day of judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world.

What is your spiritual posture? Are you feeling defeated by guilt and shame? There is a posturing of repentance and humility that we all must do. But remember that your redemption comes from Jesus. Remember that He suffered so you could be free from all that. You can never be good enough to free yourself from guilt and shame, you must trust the Lord. We must take the postures of both humility and confidence. We can be confident because our trust is in the Lord, not in ourselves. If we remain only in a posture of repentance, that indicates we don't recognize the power of the blood of Jesus to cleanse our sin. His blood is more powerful than your sin!

Lift up your head! Lift up your hands! Do it now! Imagine the washing and cleansing of the Lord Jesus. Imagine Him washing off all that which would defile and dim your light. Rejoice in that and let your light shine in such a way that He is glorified! Worship Him! He is your hope, your strength, your confidence and your deliverance!

Psalm 24:7-9; Daniel 11:32; Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:14-16; 1 John 4:17; 1 John 3:2-3; Hebrews 2:1-4; Hebrews 9:14